Ways to give back this holiday season
Day 1 of 12 Days of Stories
As the season of giving approaches, many are left wondering how to make a difference by giving back in their local community. Below are five ways to help spread holiday cheer across Hershey and the surrounding areas!
Every year, Coco Packs runs their own toy drive in collaboration with local businesses. Businesses that choose to partner with the Coco Packs Presents program place a donation box in their lobby and have around 3 weeks to collect donations for their customers. All donations are given to local children and families in need. To help with this program, donations are accepted at several businesses and volunteers are always needed to help collect and inventory the toys donated.
A big branch of the Salvation Army franchise is the Philadelphia branch. This branch offers holiday programs including Adopt-a-Family and Angel Tree Toy Drives. In their Angel Tree Program, anonymous donors adopt “angels” in which they give presents to, in hopes of keeping the Christmas spirit alive in those who struggle during these times.
This donation center located in Hazleton, PA, offers a Christmas Drive for foster children. The drive aims to gain toy donations for children placed in foster homes.
Several CommunityAid thrift stores are located around the Hershey area including branches in Harrisburg and Lancaster. CommunityAid accepts clothing and toy donations for those in need. During their Christmas shopping hours, families in need can come into their store and buy donated items at a discounted price.
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Though this food bank accepts donations throughout the year, during winter months it could be even more important to donate to those in need of food due to the colder weather.
Grace Catalone is a reporter and social media editor for the Broadcaster. She is a senior and this is her third year on the Broadcaster staff. Grace is...
